A Diterpenoid of the Medicinal Plant Andrographis paniculata Targets Cutaneous TRPV3 Channel and Relieves Itch

Transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 3 (TRPV3) is an ion channel implicated in skin physiology and itch. TRPV3 inhibitors can present a novel strategy for combating debilitating itch conditions, and medicinal plants are a natural pool of such compounds. Here, we report the isolation of a TRPV3-inhibiting compound from Andrographis paniculata, a medicinal plant with anti-inflammatory properties whose bioactive components are poorly characterized in terms of molecular targets. Using 1H and 13C NMR and high-resolution mass spectrometry, the compound was identified as a labdane-type diterpenoid, 14-deoxy-11,12-didehydroandrographolide (ddA). The activity of the compound was evaluated by fluorescent calcium assay and manual whole-cell patch-clamp technique. ddA inhibited human TRPV3 in stably expressing CHO and HaCaT keratinocytes, acting selectively among other TRP channels implicated in itch and inflammation and not showing toxicity to HaCaT cells. Antipruritic effects of the compound were evaluated in scratching behavior models on ICR mice. ddA suppressed itch induced by the TRPV3 activator carvacrol. Additionally, ddA potently suppressed histamine-induced itch with efficacy comparable to loratadine, a clinically used antihistamine drug. These results suggest the potential of ddA as a possible safe and efficacious alternative for antipruritic therapy.